7 May 2020

New podcast: The battle to save my only eye

AMD

In our latest podcast, we speak to Professor Gilmartin and Mr Kam Balaggan, Consultant Ophthalmologist, about the battle to save his remaining vision.

“It’s been a rollercoaster…I’ve been up and down but one positive is the care and attention I’ve received. Some of the pay back is the new thinking and approaches that have come from my experience, which will be valuable in the long-term.”

Professor Bernard Gilmartin FCOptom has very severe macular degeneration which resulted in a loss of vision in one eye, and threatens his vision in the other. He has undergone a prolonged and challenging battle involving extensive surgery, in an attempt to save the vision in his only eye. 

In our latest podcast we speak to Professor Gilmartin and Mr Kam Balaggan, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Wolverhampton and Midland Counties Eye Infirmary. Professor Gilmartin first captured the hearts of optometrists - many of whom he taught at university - at our conference in 2018, where he spoke candidly about his experience and Mr Balaggan's heroic efforts to save the vision in his remaining eye.

Our podcast series covers the latest in eye care, including gene therapy, ocular allergy and AMD. Download and listen now, just search ‘The College of Optometrists’ wherever you get your podcasts.

Related further reading

Since October 2017, NICE has issued two new clinical guidelines and one update concerning the three most common age-related causes of sight loss. Madeleine Bailey looks at what it means for you – and NHS eye services overall

The floodgates have opened for a new era of gene therapy that can treat the inherited causes of eye disease. Becky McCall reports.

AMD

Becky McCall looks at how the latest research has linked air pollution with eye health, and the advice to give patients on how to protect themselves.